If you've never visited magical Malta before: Give it a Gozo

Back in the 1960s, a lot of people thought that ‘abroad’ was a hazardous place where it was dangerous to drink the water, food might be cooked with nasty ingredients such as garlic and olive oil, and the plumbing was likely to be deficient.

For the hesitant Mediterranean traveller, Malta was a beacon of hope and comfort. This was a country that had red post boxes and traditional British telephone kiosks.

Road signs were in English and people drove on the left- hand side of the road.

Star attraction: Basilica St George in Gozo's capital Victoria

Getting there may have involved a three-hour flight – the island sits below Sicily – but it could seem to the determined Anglophile that they had barely left the UK.

Apart from the blazing hot summer sun, of course.

However, what made the island seem such a good bet 50 years ago gradually began to work against it: as people became more confident about foreign travel, the idea of choosing somewhere familiar started to lose its appeal.

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A new generation of travellers weren’t avoiding garlic and olive oil: they were buying it regularly from their local supermarkets.

So, from being a staple of the package holiday business, Malta slipped down the charts.

To the island’s credit, in the past decade or so it has substantially reinvented itself as a holiday destination that appeals to the more thoughtful traveller looking for history, culture, beauty and charm.

For the first-time visitor the most impressive aspect of Malta is its history and the wealth of historic buildings, particularly those connected with the Knights of St John. Malta’s archaeological treasures boast some of the oldest buildings in the world.

Malta’s archaeological treasures boast some of the oldest buildings in the world

Perhaps, however, Malta’s real ace in the pack is the smaller neighbouring island of Gozo, reached by a regular ferry service.

This is a destination that has become extremely popular with holidaying celebrities. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie were regular visitors and the island is often used as location for film-makers.

One way in which the island’s tourist board is hoping to lure more visitors is by publicising the extensive list of festivals, feasts, carnivals and commemorations that take place on Malta – more than 250 events every year.

One of the best known is the Valletta International Baroque Festival, which attracts all the big names in classical music.

If you’re not sure about taking a longer holiday here, try a short break.

There are lots of excellent affordable small hotels and the island is served by budget airlines.